Sally Rooney’s books are displayed for sale at a bookstore in London, Thursday October 15, 2026.
Kin Cheung/AP
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Kin Cheung/AP
Irish author Sally Rooney has long been described as “the voice of a generation” for her bestselling novels that are ostensibly about millennial relationships, but also explore deeper issues of class, gender and politics.
From now on, the 35-year-old writer’s books will no longer be sold in the UK due to her own political beliefs. She had promised to donate the proceeds to a pro-Palestinian group that the United Kingdom has designated as a terrorist organization.
In a declaration this week, its editor explained:
“Current legislation in the UK has led to circumstances where Faber cannot pass on UK income to Sally Rooney for her work. Selling a writer’s work and not being able to pass on her income is an unconscionable situation for a publisher.”
“As such, and in full agreement with Sally, we have made the decision that we can no longer supply her works in the UK in any format,” Faber said.
The move comes after Rooney – who has said she believes Israel is committing genocide in Gaza – announced last year she would donate funds from her book proceeds to Palestinian Action, which has been banned in the UK under anti-terrorism legislation.
Israel vehemently denies genocide allegations.
The UK-based Palestinian company Action claims on its website that it uses “disruptive tactics” to target “companies that facilitate the Israeli military-industrial complex and seeks to prevent these companies from profiting from the oppression of Palestinians.”
It targeted facilities linked to an Israeli arms manufacturer and, in a major security breach, last year managed to break into Britain’s largest air base. Activists spray-painted two planes at the base blood red, in what the group said was a protest against British military support for Israel.
Palestinian Action was also responsible for the vandalism of one of President Trump’s golf courses in Scotland in March last year, when activists painted the course with the words “Gaza is not for sale.” React on social networksTrump called those responsible “terrorists.”
FILE – From left, Paul Mescal, Sally Rooney and Ed Guiney participate in Hulu’s “Normal People” panel during the Television Critics Association Winter 2020 press tour, January 17, 2020, in Pasadena, California.
Richard Shotwell/Invision/AP
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Richard Shotwell/Invision/AP
When the British government banned the group in July last year, it said it was on the grounds that Palestinian Action was responsible for “serious material damage”. It was the first time a terrorist designation was given to an organization that does not call for violence against people.
“Its activity has increased in frequency and severity since the start of 2024 and its methods have become more aggressive, with its members demonstrating a willingness to resort to violence,” the British said. the government said at the time.
The government also said that the group’s “activities meet the threshold of terrorism as set out in the Terrorism Act 2000”, adding that it found “that Palestine Action commits and participates in acts of terrorism”.
Free speech concerns
But critics questioned that assessment, saying it raised concerns about free speech.
UN human rights chief Volker Türk urged the British government to overturn the decision, saying it “seems disproportionate and unnecessary.”
“This limits the rights of many people involved in and supporting Palestine Action who did not themselves engage in underlying criminal activity but rather exercised their rights to freedom of expression, peaceful assembly and association,” Türk said. said.
Amnesty International UK also raised concerns, adage “The UK has a deeply flawed and overly broad definition of terrorism.”
Under British law, anyone providing financial assistance to the group faces up to 14 years in prison.
For fear of arrest, Rooney says she has stopped traveling from her home in Ireland to the UK to attend awards ceremonies and other events since the law came into force.
But the novelist defended her support for Palestinian action, saying in a statement opinion article In Irish weather last year: “If that makes me a ‘supporter of terrorism’ under UK law, so be it.”
It was in this article that she announced that she would use the UK profits from her work “as well as my public platform in general, to continue to support Palestinian action and lead action against genocide in whatever way possible”.
But now his books will not be sold at all in Britain and so there will be no revenue.
THE Normal people The author was undeterred, saying in a statement shared with NPR: “I have made every effort to be honest with the public about my beliefs and intentions, and I am fully prepared to accept the consequences.”
Since Palestinian Action was banned, several thousand people in the UK have been arrested for their support, mainly for carrying placards and T-shirts.
The ban has been challenged in court, with the UK High Court ruling against it in February. An appeals court later overturned this decision. Next month the case will go to Britain’s highest court.
In August, the US Treasury Department followed the UK’s lead. sanction Palestine Action, calling them “far-left terrorists”.
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